Brunch: Cafe Tran, Onehunga

Cafe Tran, Onehunga, Auckland. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Herald Rating: 4/5
Address: 170 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga

We came here because we'd heard the food and the service were fantastic, so we wanted to see if it was worth adding to our list of local favourites.

Parking was not an issue as we walked from home on this sunny Saturday morning. Onehunga is always packed on weekends, so if you drive you may have a bit of a walk.

We walked in and immediately thought Cafe Tran's interior was fairly basic but pleasant. We loved the fresh roses on each table. We opted for an outside seat to make the most of the balmy autumn day.

The most unusual thing on the menu was the YMCA bodybuilders' omelette with five egg whites, two egg yolks, spinach, cherry tomatoes, and house-baked toasted five-grain, lightly sprinkled with feta ($14.50).

We ordered the eggs benedict with bacon ($15.50) - my dining companion was back from Berlin for a couple of weeks and had been craving this Kiwi brunch menu staple - and the Danish open omelette with proscuitto, spinach, cherry tomatoes, Danish blue cheese and a slice of the house-baked five-grain ($16.50). The presentation of each was a work of art and both meals were full of flavour and delicious.

The coffee was like nowhere else we've been in Auckland. Each came out with an intricate pattern - ours were a perfectly realised rabbit and a teddy bear, while the next door table had a Fu Manchu. So impressive. Plus, it tasted fantastic. Yum and fun.

The service was very polite, friendly and efficient.

We recommend if you come here remember to check out the impressive array of counter food, and if you have time, definitely have a decorative coffee in-house rather than a takeaway cup.

Overall we thought Cafe Tran lived up to its reputation for great food and service. We'll definitely be back, especially for those nifty coffees.